Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Todd and the Toad

There's a saying 'life is merrier with a Scottish Terrier.' I have to say that I'm actually finding that 'life is hairier with a Scottish Terrier.' I don't even know how to start in telling you what happened this morning...The day started out okay. But Todd, right away, was really interested in something by the corner of the back porch. I just shooed him away from it, thinking he'd just leave whatever had captured his attention, alone. I went back inside and forgot about it. Todd however, didn't forget. When I went out to check on him 5 or 10 minutes later, all I saw was 'foam' all over the backyard and all over Todd.

I grabbed Todd and ran my fingers through his mouth to get rid of whatever was causing the reaction, but there was nothing. I thought that his tongue looked gray and he was also coughing just a little bit. I took him into the kitchen and shoved his face under the faucet and washed his face off and opened up his mouth to rinse that out as well. I grabbed a towel and continued to wipe is mouth out and clean off his tongue and gums.

When I put Todd down on the floor to get a better assessment of how he was, he ran away from me and messed all over the rug. I had NO idea what he'd gotten into and I was really starting to panic. I was also feeling the urgency to get him to an animal emergency clinic. I was relieved that Todd was no longer foaming from his mouth so I gave him some ice and water and put him in his crate while I got dressed.

No more than 20 minutes had passed since all this started, but Todd was looking better. He seemed comfortable and he even ate a piece of ice. With that, I decided to sit and wait and see what happened. With the calm it occurred to me that he must've bitten one of the toads that we have around our porch. I'd seen them last evening and had told Carl that we needed to watch for them because they are poisonous and Todd was taking an interest in them when they hopped.

As I sat there with Todd, I looked it up 'dogs and toads' on the internet. Sure enough, what happened to Todd was the exact thing that had happened to other dogs who had come in contact with these particular toads. While eating them can be fatal, I really thought that Todd had only ingested their poison when he either licked one, or tried to pick one up in his mouth. Because dogs get sick immediately after direct contact, the articles said that rinsing their mouths out was the prescribed treatment. It also mentioned that the 'episodes' pass in about half an hour. I was feeling much better and confident that he'd be okay, but to be sure, I called the animal emergency and spoke to a vet (that I happen to know). Of course she told me to bring him in for a check and observation. But because he'd eaten his entire breakfast and seemed okay I opted to take him to work with me instead.

Todd was really good at work with me today. This evening he played with his ball and harassed the cat. He seems to have totally forgotten the events of the morning. I wish I could...

Oh my gosh Todd! You have some of the most amazing things happen to you! Thank goodness your okay,, and I hope you learned you can listen to the toads croak- you can watch them jump- but don't kiss them!lovetweedles

I'm so glad it wasn't anything that had worse consequences. I had NO idea that toads are poisonous, and if so, can you get rid of them ?He's an inquisitive gentleman, I doubt he's learned his lesson, keep a close eye on him when he's outside.Another day in life at Golden Pines ;)~Jo

Glad Todd is non the worse for his toad encounter.He certainly keeps you on your toes! Bella is a right scavenger,and the other day she picked up a bag of sandwiches on the footpath and scoffed the lot...plastic bag and all! :0)

I hope he doesn't forget it entirely and that he learned his lesson to stay away from those nasty toads!! Hearing about him being in trouble first thing in the morning got my adrenalin pumping!! Hugs to you both.

Oh Todd! You are making life there at Golden Pines very interesting to say the least. I am so glad that you are ok, you sweet thing!!Kim, I'm thankful that you reported your findings because I had no idea... and now I will know should I ever encounter this problem with Gracie. Whewww!!!!

oh my gosh! i had no idea and i've had dogs all my life. just no toads i guess! thankfully!does todd team up with lucas to harrass cc or do they work as singles? lol. i think she can handle them. i guess kitties are smart enough not to try to eat the toads. or they'd surely be gone by now! cc strikes me as caretaker of the whole property. the quiet wise one amidst all the doggy chaos!love to you dear heart,tammy j

I have the same worries here. Tsar used to like to pick up toads and I was always worried that he'd grab one of the poisonous types. Now Bailey grabs toads and bites their heads off. Rob has found three or four headless toads lately. So far no bad ones, but still it's a habit I have to curb.

Kim, Not sure how I missed this but how scary; I'm so glad Todd is o.k. I knew that Toad's can emit a poison to repel predators but didn't know that it could be fatal. Hunter got groomed for the first time today and looks so cute; we may let him get shaggy between grooming, just for the cost. He is so wild at night-must be the puppy in him.Hugs, Noreen & Hunter

Oh, I'm so glad Todd is okay. I know you were really scared. I'm so glad everything worked out and that he is well. Thanks for the advise that dogs should not eat toads. I didn't know they would die if they ate toads. This is good advise for us.

Well, if the yucky experience of the toad foam doesn't keep Todd from ever doing that again, we'll bet the memory of the mom panic and getting his mouth washed out will do the trick. Of course, a day at work with mom was a reward, so who knows. We don't have toads here, but Jed has mangled a few small box turtles.

A Little About Me...

In 2007 my dream of living in the country and sharing it with senior Golden Retrievers came true when we moved to a small town in Northern Virginia into a home that would become 'Golden Pines.' Our lives are now filled with more rescued Golden Retrievers than I'll admit to, a Wheaten Terrier, a lively little Scottie, a black lab and a very tolerant cat. This blog chronicles snippets of a life in the country that has truly 'gone to the dogs!'